Hi WSO,
I just started in Audit with a B4 firm this January, and have all my CPA exams passed. I also just passed CFA Level I in December - registered for Level II in June. I come from a non-target: think big state school in Top 100 on U.S. News.
In college, the goal was to stay in audit for 3-4 years, then go to a top 20 MBA via crushing the GMAT (undergrad GPA is a 3.5). Then BB Associate. Now, I’m thinking of trying to get into IB for a boutique Analyst position after getting 1 year of experience for the CPA letters.
I am also hoping the CFA will help my chances of getting an interview. Question is: am I on the right path? Any advice people can give? I am absolutely still interested in getting an MBA for “rebranding” purposes.
Thanks for your responses ahead of time.
If you can get a respectful IB analyst position, I’d say go for it. Opens more doors and will round out your experience for when the MBA applications comes around.
Could you elaborate on this? I just broke into a small boutique (M7 MBA down the road. I feel like I was robbed of my collegiate experience by being around such shithead dumb dumbs (I picked a dumb ass frat when I’m a smart dude — colossal mistake) and want the top MBA to both rebrand me and give me great friends that like to work hard/get turnt @ the same time.
not sure why you would need an MBA to meet hardworking, ambitious people
Definitely possible. Having passed CFA level 1 should strengthen your case as well.
Thanks for the support!! Failed Level 2 unfortunately :( gotta decide if retaking it is worth it since it was a close fail and i know the material pretty damn well, so it could be a minor skim of material going forward. If you have any opinions on that I’d appreciate it.
At least I broke in, though. Now I can worry about B school and other professional development with the audit monkey off my back!
If I may good sir,
The CPA CFA MBA can be represented by the tri-force, a triangular sacred relic that represents the essences of the Golden Goddesses.
CPA = Triforce of Courage, which embodies the essence of Din CFA = Triforce of Power or Farore and finally, the MBA = Triforce of Wisdom or Nayru
Once all three have been achieved, the holder of the Triforce allows anyone who touches it to make a wish that lasts until they die or the wish is fulfilled.
Historically, holders have used their wish to run powerful empires (example, Gates, 1975) or hedgefunds (Soros, 1970) and even social justice (Hefner, 1952).
Good luck little cubbie. Good luck.
The title of this thread should be not 'Audit to IB', but 'Uniting the Big 3'
boutique IB is certainly attainable. then you could look to lateral to a MM firm. CFA L2 is useless though.
considering you just started at B4 this month, your timeline should be: now-6 months: take the gmat (2-3 months), start developing your IB network list, develop your "story" for the switch, study technicals/interview prep 6 months - 1 yr: reach out to your network list 1yr-18 months: land role, see how it goes, possibly look to pivot to MM IB
Thanks for the timeline/advice and sorry to bring this up again - but I did break into IB. Took Level 2 as well and just found out I failed haha... reconsidering whether it’s worth it at this point. The reasoning behind me going for it was bc I was going to leverage it to go Audit > Valuation > an eventual banking position; now that I’m here, I’ve gotta weigh out if I want all that effort to go to waste.
Doing the GMAT too. Going to get some solid deal exp then potentially focus on lateralling later. Would love to chat via PM about recommendations if you’re not busy.
Don't you dare re-take that exam. Certifications are a waste of time and money in IB my friend.
Go with the IB analyst gig if you can get it. I had opportunities after both my first and second year as a B4 audit associate that I balked at. Tried to break in after my first busy season of senioring, was told I was a bit too experienced to come in as an analyst, and now I'm in business school getting my MBA (on the plus side I did just land a summer associate role with a BB, so I guess alls well that ends well).
You'll be able to move to the buy side quickly (not really an option as a post-MBA associate and even then I think it makes more sense to grind it out and try to make VP) and save yourself a shit load of money in student debt and opportunity cost (B4 royally fucks you with respect to pay vs. hours worked and shit you have to put up with).
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